After a 45 minute presentation by planners and officials involved with the project, attendees circulated to different stations that highlighted specific sections of the project. Each station featured at least one note-taker (pictured at left) furiously scribbling down any feedback offered. less

After a 45 minute presentation by planners and officials involved with the project, attendees circulated to different stations that highlighted specific sections of the project. Each station featured at ... more

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More break-out sessions

More break-out sessions

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The breakout session for Market Street near 5th and 6th highlighted the Powell street area, and one very welcomed improvement would be the elimination of Hallidie Plaza, sunken from street level and inviting to just about no one. less

The breakout session for Market Street near 5th and 6th highlighted the Powell street area, and one very welcomed improvement would be the elimination of Hallidie Plaza, sunken from street level and inviting ... more

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A POV shot of The Owl, a device showing a landscape of the Better Market Street projected finished state.

A POV shot of The Owl, a device showing a landscape of the Better Market Street projected finished state.

The Better Market Street project held a public workshop on Wednesday at the Parc 55 hotel, seeking feedback and reaction to each of the three plans that will alter Market Street (and perhaps Mission Street). Construction of this project is slated for 2017, and has two stated overall goals:

Optimize sustainable mobility modes (transit, walking and cycling) to be pleasant, reliable, efficient and comfortable for all users.

Make Market Street the signature sustainable street in San Francisco and the Bay Area by creating a memorable and active identity, with gathering spaces, the ability to promenade, and a vibrant public life.

Bicycle transit infrastructure will play a large part in each of the three proposals, a further step to accommodate San Francisco’s goal of making 20 percent of all commute trips in San Francisco bicycle trips by 2020. On a given weekday, about 5,000 cyclists commute to and from downtown SF via the Market Street route. This is based on data collected by the (still-not working) bicycle barometer.

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The first option will put cyclists in shared transit lanes — this is pretty much what we have now for much of Market Street on market from 9th street, although on Market from Van Ness to 9th, separated bike lanes have been installed. Super sharrows (the green-backed kind, so to speak) would be laid down, but the transit lanes would be widened to allow for safe passing of stopped buses.

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The second option would provide a separated bike path (a “cycletrack”) on Market. Note that the cycletrack on the left is between the “streetlife” zone (expanded sidewalk space with added features, like street furniture, plantings, etc.) and the Muni stop station, while the cycletrack on right is between the local Muni stop and the Muni island.

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A third option would move the bus lines from Mission to Market Street and install a cycletrack on Mission, which would sometimes be separated from vehicular traffic, sometimes not (Cyclists on Market Street would share transit lanes, as in Option 1.) Left hand turns would now be possible for motor vehicles on Mission. Plans to link the Market Street corridor to Mission Street would mean improvements along side streets. One issue with this plan is how to get the inbound cyclists from Market over to Mission to take advantage of the cycletrack.

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Regarding Muni, the project should improve Muni transit times: One presenter mentioned that Muni speeds average between 4 and 8 MPH on Market St. Timing the traffic signals to allow for a 14 MPH “green wave” in both directions is part of any plan. The distance between Muni stops will also be increased, in some cases nearly doubled — instead of every block, perhaps every two blocks for some lines.

Private car restrictions are being considered in these plans, too. There are some auto restrictions on Market street now — specifically, inbound private vehicles are supposed to turn right onto 10th and 6th Streets. There’s also the bus- and taxi-only center lane up and down much of San Francisco’s once- and future great(?) street — but both of these restrictions are routinely violated. (No wonder Muni tops out at 8 PM on Market Street.)